If, like me, you prefer your outdoor gear more than , then the Moonrise 3-in-1 jacket from Jack Wolfskin is unlikely to set your heart aflutter. With an understated look and self color logo that’s firmly in the normcore camp, I struggled to be excited about it, despite its respectable spec, as one of the brand’s higher end offerings. But, while my emotional response was a distinct ‘meh’, it quickly won me over simply by being good at what it’s designed for.
First things first, this is not a jacket for mountaineers. If you want to scale the heights or bag Wainwrights in quick succession, look elsewhere. Our buying guide to the should set you straight.
But if your idea of a good time is a moderate hike, over moderate terrain in moderate weather, then look no further. And yes, it might not get you over but it will do a decent job of keeping you warm, and save you from an unexpected deluge. Although I’d worn this jacket all over the Lake District and the south west UK for a few months, I kept getting lucky with the weather and was struggling to properly test its waterproofing.
Then a few weeks ago I went out for an easy Sunday afternoon walk. The sky was almost clear blue and I messaged friends asking them if they wanted to meet for a cheeky pint at a favorite pub. The messages came back with a resolute ‘no, haven’t you seen the forecast’.
Color me naive, but as I’d strode out the door I hadn’t bothered to check - it was too nice a day to worry. I shook my h.